Emergency Medicine Continuous Certification

ABEM (American Board of Emergency Medicine)

EMCC consist of four components. These are:

• Professional Standing
• Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (LLSA)
• Assessment of Cognitive Expertise
• Assessment of Practice Performance

Professional Standing

Beginning in 2004, diplomates must hold at least one medical license in the United States, its territories, or Canada, that is active, current, valid, unrestricted, and unqualified throughout the time that they are certified. ABEM will verify all diplomate’s medical licenses at the time they register for the ConCert examination, and ABEM will randomly verify the licenses of 5% of its diplomates annually.

1. Diplomates must hold at least one medical license in the U.S., its territories or Canada that is active, current, valid, unqualified, and unrestricted throughout the time that they are certified.
2. All licenses held must meet ABEM criteria.
3. Diplomates may hold voluntarily inactive licenses.
4. Diplomates will attest that their licenses meet the criteria stated above each time they take the LLSA tests.
5. ABEM will randomly verify the licenses of 5% of its diplomates annually.
6. ABEM will verify licenses each time diplomates register for the ConCert examination.

Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (LLSA)

ABEM will publish 20 readings each year in December. The reading lists for 2004,2005 and 2006 are available. A 40 question test will be prepared based on these 20 articles. The tests will be posted and can be taken on the ABEM web site. The first test will be available after April 5th, 2004. Each test will remain on the ABEM site for 3 years. Diplomates will have 3 tries to pass the each exam. Most readings can be found directly from the link on the ABEM website. Two commercial product is available. This is not an endorsement of either.

http://www.emprep.org/emprep/index.html
http://www.emedhome.com/cme_about-concert.cfm

1. A list of 20 readings based on the EM Model will be posted on the ABEM website each year.
2. 40-item LLSA tests will be developed based on the annual readings.
3. A new LLSA test will be posted on the ABEM website each year.
4. Each LLSA test will remain online for three years.
5. Once registered for an LLSA test, diplomates will have three opportunities to pass per registration.

Assessment of Cognitive Expertise

The examination will be administered in a computer lab at about 200 locations. The exam will take place the first week in November 2004. The exam will be a one half day session. Some of the questions on the exam will be based on the LLSA readings. The amount of questions from the LLSA reading will increase over the years to about 40%.

1. The Continuous Certification (ConCert) examination will be a comprehensive examination based on the LLSA readings and the EM Model.
2. ConCert will typically occur in the tenth year of each diplomate’s EMCC cycle.
3. ConCert will be a half-day examination.
4. ConCert will be administered at computer-based testing centers around the country.

Assessment of Practice Performance

Yet to be developed and implemented.

1. Activities will be focused on practice improvement.
2. Activities will offer diplomates a choice of ways to meet requirements.
3. Activities will not require that diplomates be clinically active in EM, but will also be available to other diplomates like those engaged in EM teaching, research, or administration.
4. The Board is currently discussing specific options that will be developed over the next several years.

2005 Readings

Selections from Nervous System Disorders and Toxicologic Disorders

Content Area 12. Nervous System Disorders

• deGans J, van de Beek D. Dexamethasone in adults with bacterial meningitis. N Eng J Med. Nov 2002;347:1549-1556.
• Hasbun R, Abrahams J, Jekel J, et al. Computed tomography of the head before lumbar puncture in adults with suspected meningitis. N Engl J Med. Dec 2001;345:1727-1733.
• Lewandowski C, Barsan W. Treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Ann Emerg Med. Feb 2001;37:202-216.
• Schutzman SA, Greenes DS. Pediatric minor head trauma.Ann of Emerg Med. Jan 2001; 37:65-74.
• Warden CR, Zibulewsky J, Mace S, et al. Evaluation and management of febrile seizures in the out-of-hospital and emergency department settings. Ann Emerg Med. Feb 2003;41:215-222.